Fork for cycles



W. STARL'EY.

FORK FOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION. FILED MAY 24. 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. STARLEY.

FORK FOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921 2 SHEET$-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES WILLIAM STABLE-Y, 0F EBDINGTON, ENGLAND.

FORK FOR CYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed May 24, 1920. Serial No. 383,881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM STARLEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 9 \Vood End road, Erdington, in the county of lVarwick, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to the Forks for Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the forks of cycles, motor-cycles and the like of the type in which each forkside is made from sheet metal and has a duplex tubular cross-section with an intermediate web.

The object of the present invention is to improve and strengthen the construction of forks and fork-sides of the kind referred to and to simplify and thereby facilitate their manufacture.

An improved wheel fork constructed according to this invention is characterized in that each forkside is made from two or more sheet metal blanks each of which is fashioned to form a member having a tubular edge and an integral web of double thickness, said members being engaged with and secured to each other so as to form a forkside of duplex tubular cross-section having an intermediate web of four thicknesses of metal.

In order that'the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect reference is made in describing the same to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 shows the sheet metal blank for the main member of the forkside.

Figs. 2 and 3 show in side View and plan respectively the main member of the forkside as produced by folding and pressing the blank.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the other member of the fork side, here shown as made in two parts.

Figs. 7 and 8 each show in side view and plan the two members of the forkside before they are interlocked with and secured to each other.

Fig. 9 represents in side view the complete forkside forming the subject of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the same on the line a-b of Fig. 9.

Throughout the drawing like parts are designated by similar reference characters.

Referring to the construction shown n the drawings, the improved forkside as will be seen is made in two parts, one of which constitutes the principal or main member while the other, which may itself be made in sections and of lighter gage metal than the first member, forms the secondary member of the forkside and corresponds with the stays in the present form of built up tubular girder fork.

Each part of the fork side is made from a blank of sheet metal which may if de sired be cut to the required shape as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and A, before the bending and pressing operations. A preferred method however is to take a blank of the shape shown in full lines in Fig. 1 for the principal member A of the forkside and fold it along a longitudinal center line over and around a bar or former of the re quired diameter to form the tubular edge 2, Fig. 2, after which the two projecting par allel portions forming an integral Web 3 are pressed together and finally trimmed or cut to the required shape as seen in full lines in Fig. 2.

The two blanks from which the other member B of the fork side is made are similarly treated but in this case it is preferred to leave a wider web 4 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7 so that when the two parts 5, 6 comprising the secondary member B of the forkside are engaged with the main member A by passing the webs 4 thereon between the webs 3 on the main member the free edges 4 of the former extend right into the tubular edge 2 of the latter and are finally expanded therein as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 10. By this means the two members A and B are firmly locked together and united by a web of four thick nesses of metal.

Where the free edges 3 of the web of the primary member A of t 1e forkside abut against the tubular edges 7 of the secondary member they may be brazed or welded thereto in any suitable manner.

The terminal portions of the two parts of the forkside after assembly are firmly secured together by lugs or end plates the bottom one 8 of which is slotted to receive the wheel spindle while the upper one 9 may plates forming a convenient means for car rying bearing pins for the lower links 12.

The blanks from which the forkside members are formed are preferably cut so that when the said members are assembled the grain of the metal runs in opposite or diagonal directions to each other.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In wheel forks for cycles, motorcycles and the like, a fork side therefor comprisingin combination, a main member formed from sheet metal and having a tubular edge and an integral web of double thickness, and a secondary member made in two parts each part being formed from sheet metal and having a tubular edge and an integral web of double thickness, said secondary member being engaged with the main member by inserting the webs on the two parts, thereof between the two thicknesses of the web on themainmember so as to form a fork side of duplex tubular cross-section having an intermediate web of four thicknesses of metal substantially as set forth.

3. In wheel forks for cycles, motorcycles and the like, a fork-side therefor comprising in combination main and secondary members each formed from sheet metal and having a tubular edge and an integral web. of

double thickness, said members being secured together with the web of one part inserted between t'he two thicknesses of the web of the other part and having its free edges expanded within the tubular portion of said other part, the whole forming a forkside of duplex tubular cross-section having an intermediate web of four thicknesses of metal of which only two free edges are on the outside substantially as set forth.

4. In wheel forks for cycles, motorcycles and the like, a forkside therefor comprising in combination main and secondary members each formed from a sheet metal blank folded over on itself to form a tubular edge, and integral parallel flanges constituting a web, said members being secured together with thceweb of one part inserted between the flanges of the other part so as to form a forkside of duplex tubular cross section with an intermediate web of four thicknesses of metal substantially as set forth.

5. In wheel forks for cycles, motorcycles and the like, a forkside therefor comprising in combination a main member formed from a blank-sheet of metal folded over on itself to form a tubular edge and integral parallel flanges constituting a web the top and bottom corners of which are cut off at an angle, a secondary member made in sections each of which is formed from a sheet metal blank so as to have a tubular edge and an integral web of two thicknesses of metal, said secondary member being engaged with the main member by inserting the webs on the sections of the former between the flanges on the ,latter and welding them along the lines of contact so as to form a forkside of duplex tubular cross-section having an intermediate web of four thicknesses of metal substantially as set forth.

WVILLIAM STARLEY, 

